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PETALING JAYA: A party member said that Umno has returned to the drawing board about his candidate for the post of Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) in the government led by Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Before this, a source said that Umno only put forward one candidate, party chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The majority of the 39 Umno MPs are said to be aligned with the Bagan MP Datuk and want him to re-assume the role of DPM as part of Umno’s “new conditions” for his continued support of the PN government.
“Our choice was Zahid, as he has the experience and was also deputy prime minister,” said a source familiar with the matter.
Although the majority of Umno MPs are said to support Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the position, other names included in the mix include Senior Security Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
On speculation that Zahid could be seen as a risk due to his corruption trial, the source declined to comment on the president, saying only that Ismail was viewed as “reasonable and neutral.”
“It does not come with political baggage and court cases. It is also becoming popular with the masses, ”he added.
Some Umno MPs have suggested Hishammuddin’s name, but the source said the Sembrong MP is seen as “close” to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Azmin Ali of PPBM.
“Your decisions may not represent the voice of Umno. Parliamentarians are analyzing various factors before making a decision, ”he said, adding that they want a parliamentarian who is accepted by all.
The source also said that Vice President Mohamad Hasan was not in the race, although, in hierarchy, he was second only to Zahid.
This, the source said, was because Mohamad was not “well accepted” by the Umno MPs even though he was seen as a “man of the people” by the rank and file and Malaysians of different races and religions.
It is not known when the final list of Umno’s election for the post of deputy prime minister will be presented.
Meanwhile, Umno deputy Padang Rengas Nazri Aziz said it did not matter who would be offered the position in Umno.
“It doesn’t have to be Zahid. We understand if it is not offered to you due to your ongoing trial.
“We must follow the example of Bossku (Najib Razak), who does not want to hold any office until his name is cleared. The important thing is that the deputy prime minister comes from Umno and represents the party and Barisan Nasional ”.
